After Ukraine’s surprise offensive in Russian Kursk, now comes a demand – from Russian mothers.
They want President Putin to withdraw all conscripts from the border with Ukraine.
– There is such confusion and panic, because citizens from the front line are coming here and they are afraid, says the Russian activist opposition politician from Kursk, Jan Furstev.
In the petition, which has so far collected almost 10,000 signatures, Russian mothers demand that the conscripts on Russia’s border with Ukraine be called home. The fear comes after Ukraine advanced into the Russian region of Kursk and seized several communities.
“No one thought this kind of conflict was possible”
Jan Furstev, who is an activist and opposition politician in the Jabloko party in Kursk, believes that people were surprised when Ukraine crossed the border.
– No one believed that this kind of conflict inside the Kursk region was possible. People only thought that military operations could take place at the border, says Furstev.
The shock that existed among the inhabitants of the region, he believes, is the basis for the fear that is now spreading in society.
– No one had a thought that it could affect the Kursk region. That is why there is such confusion and panic, because citizens from the front line are coming here and they are afraid. They are very afraid, says Furstev.
Attacked bridge in Kursk
Ukraine has also attacked a major bridge in Kursk, according to the American think tank ISW. The bridge is supposed to be an important part of the Russian soldiers’ supply line, which has now become more difficult.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has also confirmed that the bridge has been destroyed. However, it should still be possible to cross the river Seym as there are a couple of smaller bridges that are said to be intact.